The Pulpit Commentary — Psalms — Volume 1 — Section 340

burst forth. I speak of the things which I more graphic. It runs, "Thy e.nows aro have made touching the king; or, I utter sharp-the peoples foll under thee-(they that which I have composed concerning the are) in the heart eof the king's enem'cs." 1,ing. My tongue is the pen of a ready All the enemies of Messiah ahnll one dny writer. It is noted that only "psalms of be chastised, antl fall before him. higli and solemn import" have formal Ver. 6.-Thy throne, 0 God. So the exordfo. of this kind, announcing the inten- LXX., the Epistle to the Hebrews (i. 8), tion of the writer. the Chnldee paraphrase, and, amon.~ critics, Ver. 2.-Thou art f!lirer thnn the children Roeenmiiller, Hengstenberg, Kay, Proressor of men. It has been argued that a descrip- Alexander, nnd Canon Cook. The render- tiou of the Messiah would not lay strees on ings proposed by Gesenius, Ewald, and the his personal beauty. But in the Bong of anti-Messianic school generally are wholly Bongs the personal beauty of the bridegroom, untenable, as Hengstenberg has clearly whom so many critics regard as the Messiah, shown. The psalmist's intention is to is a main point (Cant. v. 10-16). A perfect address the King, whom he has already man, such as Messiah was to be, must needs declared to be more than man (ver. 2), as be beautiful, at any rate with a beanty of "God." Is for ever and ever. A dominion expression. In calling his bridegroom "fair to which there will never be any end. This beyond the som of men," the writer at once is never said, e.nd coultl not be truly said, gives us to understand that he is not a mere of any earthly kingdom. When perpetnity man. Graoe is poured into thy lips; rather, is promised to the throne of David (2 Sam. grace u poured out on thy lips (Hengsten- vii, 13-16; Ps. Ixxxix. 4, 36, 37), it is to berg, Cheyne, Kay). The gift of gracious that tl.Jrone as continued in the reign of expression and gracious speech has been David's Son, Messiah. The sceptre of thy poured upon him from on high (comp. Cant. kingdom is a right sceptre; lilero.lly, a v. 16, "His mouth is most sweet"). There- sceptre of rectitude (comp. Pss. lxvii. 4; fore God hath blessed thee for ever. The xovi. 10). gifts bestowed upon liim show the Divine Ver. 7,-Thou lovest righteonsnosa, and li.vour and blessing, which, once granted, hatest wiokedness, therefore, etc. God will are not capriciously witlidrawn. only commit rnle end authority over hfa Ver. 3.-Gird thy sword upon thy thigh, Churoh to one who will rule justly-one who 0 most mighty; i.e. array thyself as a loves righteousness and he.tes iniquity. warrior, for thou wilt have enemies to Messiah is alone perfect in righteousness, conquer;and wilt need a sword against them and therefore entitled to rule. Therefora (see vers. 4, 5). With thy glory and thy God, thy God, hath anointed thee with tha majesty. There is no " with " in the oil of gladness above thy fellows. Some ·original. Somo think his sword is called moderns translate," Therefore, 0 God, thy Messiah's "glory and majesty." Others God hath anointed thee," eto. ; but tl.Je supply "put on," as implied in tho "gird" rendering of tho Autllorized Version is of the first clause, ancl translate, "Put on maintained by Dr. Kay, Profossor Alexander, thy glory and thy majesty;" i.e. show thy- and our Revisers. Tho unointing intended self in all the majesty and glory that is that outpouring of glory and blessedness no.turaUy belong to thee. This is quite in on Messiah which followed upon liis volun- accordance with the context. tary humilintion and sufftiring (comp. Phil. Ver. 4.-And in thy majesty ride pros- ii. 9; Heb. ii. 9). perously; literaUy, and in thy majesty go Ver. 8.-All thy garments smell of myrrh, forth, ride. The riding intended is pro- and aloea, nnd oaasia; Mernlly, myrrh and bably riding in a chariot. BeoauBB of truth aloes [and] casBia are Illy !Jarme11ts. The and meeknoss and righteousness; rother, "and" before "cassia " apptiard in funr beoause of truth and meek-tempered righteous- mnnusoripts, and in all the ancient versions. ness (Kay); i.e. for tho purpose of vindicat- The garments are so impregnnte,l witli ing truth e.nd righteousness in tho co.so of spices as to seem made of them. Out of the those who outrage them. Righteousness, ivory palaces. "Ivory pnlnces" nre men- however, to be ree.lly righteousness, must be tioned in 1 Kings xxii. 39 o.ud Amos iii. oombinetl with meekness (comp. Zeph. ii. 15. We mnst understand" pah1ces udorned 3). And thy right hand shall teaoh thee with ivory." Whereby they have made thee terrible things. It is the right hnnd where- glad. So Hcngstenberg, Ko.y, Professor willi tho warrior strikes; and at each blow Alexander, aud others. But wotit modorns it opens to the striker terriblo experiences, render, "Out of the ivory po.luces striugo,l ond thus may be t111id to "teach him terrible inetrumonts ho.vo mado thco glad." tliings." Ver. 9.-King's daughters wero (rather, Ver. 5.-Thine arrows are sharp in the are) among thy honourable women. 'l'ho heart of the king's enemies; whereby the mnrriage scene now begins lo open upon us. people fall under thee. Tllo original i8 'fl.Je bridegroom has beeu dcpicle,l iu nil  352 THE BOOK OF PSALMS. [rs. XLV, 1-17